Sometimes a career begins with an unexpected spark.
For Carlos Morales, that spark came in sixth grade at Northbrook Middle School (NMS), when a fresh haircut gave him a boost of confidence. When regular trips to the barber weren’t possible for his family, Morales picked up a pair of clippers and began learning to cut hair himself.
What started as a middle school student finding a creative solution eventually became a career.
Today, the 2014 NHS graduate is a licensed barber working in the Spring Branch community. And his SBISD story has come full circle: Morales now returns to Buffalo Creek Elementary (BCE), the school he once attended, to provide free haircuts and give today’s students the same feeling of confidence that helped start his own journey.
It’s a story of what’s possible here: experiencing the power of a school community that cares, discovering your own path and carrying that spirit of support forward to make a difference for the next generation.
Where it started
Morales still remembers getting a taper fade while he was a sixth grader. The haircut gave him a boost of confidence and made him feel good walking into school.
Regular trips to the barber were not something his family could afford, so Morales found another way. He got clippers and barbering tools and began cutting hair for boys in his family and neighborhood for free.
It was an early start to a pattern of helping others. Growing up, Morales and his family faced financial challenges. As a high school student, he worked to help support his family and care for his mother. Before buying a car for himself, he bought one for her and taught her how to drive.
After graduating,
Morales earned his commercial driver’s license and worked as a truck driver in the Houston area. He later pursued his longtime interest in barbering, completing his training at Texas Barber College and becoming a licensed barber.
Today, he works at The Boyz Barber Studio in the Spring Branch area, not far from where his own story began.
Giving confidence back
Morales has not forgotten how that haircut in sixth grade made him feel.
For the past several years, he has returned to BCE to provide free back-to-school haircuts for students. He sees a little of himself in the young people who sit in his chair and knows firsthand the confidence a fresh haircut can provide.
“A nice haircut makes a lot of difference in how you feel, especially if you feel insecure or depressed,” Morales said. “The free haircuts can give kids confidence to start the school year off well so they can better focus on their teachers and learning.”
For Morales, giving back brings his journey full circle. The school community that once supported his family is now a place where he can use his profession to support another generation of students.
Inspiring SBISD’s next generation of barbers
Morales was excited to learn that students can now explore barbering as a career at the new Guthrie Center. During a recent visit, he met with students in the program and saw their work firsthand.
His advice to students considering the profession is simple: Take it seriously.
“Treat barbering like a career and you can make good money,” Morales said.
He also emphasizes professionalism, sanitation and customer service, along with the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.
“Consistency and discipline are key,” Morales said. “We barbers are like therapists for our customers.”
Morales’ journey from an SBISD middle school student learning to cut hair to a licensed professional giving back to his community offers Guthrie Center students a powerful example of where career skills can lead.
Core Characteristics in action
Morales’ persistence, resourcefulness and commitment to serving others demonstrate the district’s six Core Characteristics:
Academically Prepared
Ethical & Service-minded
Empathetic & Self-aware
Persistent & Adaptable
Resourceful Problem-solver
Communicator & Collaborator
From the confidence he found in a barber’s chair as a sixth grader to the confidence he now gives students at BCE, Morales continues to demonstrate what it means to give back to the community that helped shape him.
Thank you, Carlos, for investing in the next generation of SBISD students.